Expression and significance of vascular endothelial growth factor in colorectal carcinoma

Objective To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in colorectal carcinoma and its significance of angiogenesis. Methods The expressions of VEGF and microvessel density(MVD) were measured in specimens of 52 colorectal carcinoma by immunohistochemistry. The relationship among the features of clinical pathology,expression of VEGF,MVD counting and survival rate were analyzed.Results Of 52 patients, negtive and positive expression of VEGF were seen in 14 and 38 patients,respectively, the higher and the lower than the mean MVD marked by CD105 were seen in 26 patients,respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between VEGF and MVD (χ2=6.25,P0.05). Furthermore, VEGF had a significant correlation with Dukes stage (χ2=11.46,P0.01) and metastasis of lymph nodes (χ2=7.58,P0.01), whereas no statistical correlation was noted between VEGF expression and sex, age, the location and the size of tumor, histological differentiation. The 3-year overall survival rate (OSR) of all patients was 49.10% and the 3-year OSR of patients with negtive and positive expression of VEGF were 67.80% and 13.59%,respectively (χ2=17.56,P0.01). Conclusion The present results suggest that VEGF is an important prognostic factor in colorectal carcinoma. Angiogenesis is associated with invasion and metastasis in colorectal carcinoma. VEGF may be a target of biological treatment of colorectal carcinoma.